Diomande feeling at home after early Rangers 'shock'

6 days ago

Mohamed Diomande feels he has developed the mental strength required to be a success at Rangers after initially finding the demands at Ibrox "a shock".The Ivorian midfielder arrived in Glasgow in 2024 on an initial loan deal from Danish side FC Nordsjælland before making the move permanent.And he believes he is now ready to show the best of himself as he gears up to take on Panathinaikos in the second leg of the second round of Champions League qualifying in Athens on Wednesday."I'm learning and progressing as a player every day," Diomande told BBC Scotland."So I'm happy that I'm playing at this level because it's also something I have wanted since I was young, to experience all of this, to play in a bigger club and to play in front of 50,000 fans."I feel like there's still more for me that I need to show. Maybe the people have not seen it. Maybe some people have, but I think there's still more I can give."Diomande says he is relishing working under Russell Martin and explained that the new head coach wants to make only subtle changes to his game."I would say he wants me to not do much different, but to be patient and to stay in the position, to trust that my team-mates are going to find me in the right position, then I can do the damage, I can maybe give the final pass," he said."I'm just doing what he has asked me to do. It would be amazing [to progress] because we want to do everything we can to get in the Champions League, to be part of it."

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Cyriel Dessers Rangers transfer exit on pause as interested club set to sign ex-Real Madrid and Champions League winner

Scottish Sun

24 minutes ago

Scottish Sun

Cyriel Dessers Rangers transfer exit on pause as interested club set to sign ex-Real Madrid and Champions League winner

Cyriel Dessers has looked likely to leave Rangers this summer, but a rumoured deal look like it's off LUKA AT THAT Cyriel Dessers Rangers transfer exit on pause as interested club set to sign ex-Real Madrid and Champions League winner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS star Cyriel Dessers has been heavily rumoured with a move away from the Light Blues this summer. Gers boss Russell Martin even confirmed after the Motherwell game on Saturday that the club have received bids for the Nigerian forward this summer. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Dessers move to AEK looks like it could be off Credit: SNS 3 That's because former Real Madrid star looks set to join the Greek giants Credit: Getty AEK Athens has been the name most heavily linked with the Gers star, who still has two years left on his deal at the Ibrox side. However it looks like Dessers moving to Greece could be OFF. Former Real Madrid and Champions League winning star Luka Jovic looks set to sign for the Greek side. Fabrizio Romano has said on X that the 27 year old will sign a deal until 2027 with AEK, despite clubs in Spain chasing his signature. It was reported that Dessers had even agreed personal terms with the Greek side, but Ibrox chiefs were determined to hold out for more money for the striker. 30 year old Dessers has scored 51 goals for the Gers and also bagged last seasons Scottish Premiership golden boot and Rangers top scorer. Despite his half century of goals, Dessers has become a Marmite figure amongst the Rangers support. Rangers season started against Motherwell at the weekend, with Dessers coming off the bench for the last half an hour. He couldn't add to his 51 goals in Light Blue, and a late Motherwell equaliser made it three seasons in a row where Rangers have failed to win their opening league fixture. The result caused a scathing post match interview from Gers boss Russell Martin. Motherwell and Rangers fans displays ahead of Premiership opener Speaking to Sky Sports, he said : "We were very lucky to get a point. "I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that. "They were braver than us, they were more aggressive than us, and I've said to the players, I've been really honest with them - there is a default here at this football club. "It's not one person's fault at all. "The default is to revert to type, which is when it's going really well, everyone's all in, it's really good, but it's not going well, you protect yourself a little bit, and the self-preservation stuff. "You can't play for this club and enjoy the really good moments, and not when it gets tough. "You have to be all in all the time, and we had two men on the pitch today that want to do what they want to do." Rangers will have to dust themselves off as they have another Champions League qualifier to attend to this week, taking on Viktoria Plzen. 3 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Martin on player response, Antman's availability & 'being honest'

BBC News

24 minutes ago

BBC News

Martin on player response, Antman's availability & 'being honest'

Russell Martin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League third qualifying round. Here are the key points:Rangers manager Russell Martin says his criticism of the players "comes from a place of love" and that his honesty comes from the fact that he's "not here to play games".Adding he's "always going to be honest" and that if some players take umbrage to his message, then there's "an issue with you being all-in" at the repeated his mantra that he needs players to "fight, run and help" their teammates, and if they can't, he's suggested they may not have a future at Ibrox: "it's not for everyone, playing for this club."Martin is adamant that his players "learn better habits" and achieve a "better foundation".The head coach adds that the squad have "trained like beasts" since his post-match claim that some players were too interested in "self preservation'" during the 1-1 draw with former Southampton boss hopes to have winger Oliver Antman, who signed from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, registered and available for Tuesday's Champions League qualifier against Viktoria also added Hamza Igamane and new signing Thelo Aasgaard won't be available for the midweek game.

Rangers injury update as two players out vs Viktoria Plzen

The National

an hour ago

The National

Rangers injury update as two players out vs Viktoria Plzen

The Ibrox pair are unavailable through injury for the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round tie against the Czech club. Aasgaard has been ruled out in recent weeks after an injury in pre-season. He is yet to make his competitive debut after sitting out both legs against Panathinaikos. 🎙️ RM: Thelo and Hamza won't make it in time for tomorrow evening. Hopefully, Antman will be registered in time we'll need to wait and see. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 4, 2025 Igamane, meanwhile, featured in the first leg of the win over Panathinaikos but suffered a minor injury. Ahead of tomorrow night's tie against Viktoria Plzen, Martin confirmed: "Thelo and Hamza won't make it in time for tomorrow evening." Martin previously said of Aasgaard's knock: "He has been everything we thought we were getting and more. Since he has been in he has been incredible. Read more: "His understanding, his athleticism, the power he has, the technical capability, he really is an exciting player for us. "Unfortunately, it is a different level of intensity and it has been high demands in pre-season. "He has picked up a little something so he is going to be touch and go. "We hope he can be involved but if not then we are really hopeful he will be ready and raring to go for the second one." On Igamane, Martin said last month: "He picked up a little bit of an injury on Tuesday night. "So, I think he missed a lot of pre-season, and he's been really trying hard to catch up fitness-wise. He's got himself in a good place. "He's not going to be out for a long time."